Illinois Gaming Expansion on a Torrid Pace
The IGB’s April meeting kicked off with Administrator Marcus Fruchter announcing that Accel Entertainment’s Fairmount Park has become Illinois’ 17th operating casino and first racino. Fruchter called it an Illinois gaming expansion milestone, referencing the 2019 gaming expansion bill. It is the 8th new Illinois casino to open since November 2021. Illinois has received over $400 million in fees relating to these openings.
The video gaming industry also has expanded considerably as a result of the 2019 legislation. Also on the horizon is Hawthorne Race Course, which could become Illinois 2nd racino sometime in the future. These developments are helping Illinois gain a reputation as the Las Vegas of the Midwest.
As he has done during the last several IGB meetings, Fruchter again gave warning against participating in gaming activities with unregulated and illegal operators. He mentioned that the IGB has been sending cease-and-desist letters and is actively monitoring the problem. Fighting this problem, which is not isolated to Illinois, is an important part of maintaining the reputation of our industry.
A Look At The Numbers
As of April 2025, Illinois has 17 casinos, 13 sportsbooks, 58 active Terminal Operators (TOs), 8,670 licensed video gaming Establishments and 48,947 VGTs. As we noted recently in our post about TITO testing in Illinois, there are 26 VGTs that are currently part of the program in anticipation of a July launch.
In March, Illinois’ VGTs produced NTI of $287,604,433, which generated total tax of $100,660,613–$85,861,253 to the state, and $14,799,360 to local municipalities and counties. Casinos produced AGR of $170,922,083–generating a State tax of $25,285,821 and $10,391,715 to host communities. Sports wagering had AGR of $128,034,091–$45,823,583 to the State and $1,293,228 to Cook County.
From January-March 2025, Illinois has received a total gaming tax of $458,068,497–$388,053,051 to the State and $70,015,446 to local municipalities. This put Illinois on pace to earn more than $1.8 billion in gaming tax in 2025. Gaming in Illinois continues to be a major revenue driver statewide.
Proposed Rule 1800.265(j)
The IGB adopted proposed Rule 1800.265(j) which aims to more tightly monitor and regulate Sales Agents and the payments they receive. The Administrator mentioned that the proposal originated from public commentary the IGB received from the industry during the vertical integration rulemaking process. The proposal remains subject to public commentary which will likely result in suggestions for improvement. However, many have already voiced their opinions that this proposal is a positive step forward for the industry.
Licensing Updates
The IGB voted to deny the TO application from Win Baby Productions, LLC, and issued a Notice of Denial to James Daniel D’Amico. The Board issued 4 Technician licenses, 40 Terminal Handler licenses, and 91 new Establishment licenses, with one Notice of Denial to Leena Corp., d/b/a Quick Stop (IGB No. 250700019).
Litigation
The Board voted to adopt an ALJ recommendation relating to the Denial of Debra Wells, d/b/a Deb’s Red Rose, which finalized the denial. Notably, the matter took two years to resolve even after the location was previously denied by the IGB on two other occasions.
The next IGB meeting is scheduled to be held on June 5th. Don’t forget to follow Universal Gaming Group on LinkedIn for ongoing updates, industry news and more gaming insights!
Must be 21 or older to game. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) or text “GAMB” to 833234. Individuals can enroll in the IGB Self-Exclusion Program at all of the IGB offices located at all casinos. Additional information can be found at https://www.igb.illinois.gov/selfexclusion.
